The Magpies will join Villa in the Championship next term if Sunderland win one of their two remaining games.

“We never really looked under threat defensively, but we never really had that killer instinct going forward,” Colback told BBC Newcastle.

“I can’t really answer the question as to why – we knew how big the game was.”

The 26-year old midfielder added: “It’s difficult to put your finger on it. We knew how important it was. I don’t know whether a bit of fatigue kicked in or what, but we weren’t quite as energetic as we have been.”

The draw extends Newcastle’s unbeaten run to five matches, their best sequence of results since November 2014 – but their survival is now not in their control.

The Magpies will join Villa in the Championship next term if Sunderland win one of their two remaining games.

“We never really looked under threat defensively, but we never really had that killer instinct going forward,” Colback told BBC Newcastle.

“I can’t really answer the question as to why – we knew how big the game was.”

The 26-year old midfielder added: “It’s difficult to put your finger on it. We knew how important it was. I don’t know whether a bit of fatigue kicked in or what, but we weren’t quite as energetic as we have been.”

The draw extends Newcastle’s unbeaten run to five matches, their best sequence of results since November 2014 – but their survival is now not in their control.